Cigarette sales volume at RJ Reynolds (RJR) Tobacco Co declined 6.9 per cent in the third quarter with drops reported both in premium and value brands, parent company Reynolds American Inc (RAI) said in a statement.

RJR sales volume at 17.4 billion sticks was down 1.3 billion sticks from the comparable three-month period in 2011. Both premium and value brands declined. Through nine months of 2012, volume fell 6.5 per cent to 51.8 billion sticks.
Data on the overall US market from Market Science Associates cited in the statement show overall US cigarette volume fell 2.7 per cent in the third quarter to 72.3 billion sticks. Volume over nine months also declined 2.7 per cent to 215.3 billion sticks.
RJR, the maker of Camel and Pall Mall, holds more than one quarter of the US cigarette market and is the second largest US tobacco company.
RAI in March announced restructuring measures including cutting the workforce by 10 per cent. Operating income rose 5.7 per cent in the third quarter to USD 718 million (EUR 551 million).
Group sales declined 3.8 per cent to USD 2.12 billion,  with RJR revenue down 6.1 per cent at USD 1.77 billion. Sales at American Snuff rose 6.7 per cent and Santa Fe Natural Tobacco revenue increased 14.7 per cent. (ci)